KARACHI: An antiterrorism court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for seven witnesses for failing to turn up to testify against the police officials in a case pertaining to the murder of an aspiring model from Waziristan, Naqeebullah Mehsud, in a ‘fake’ encounter.

Former SSP Rao Anwar, along with his around two dozen subordinates, has been charged with killing Naqeeb and three others after dubbing them “Taliban militants” in a fake shoot-out on Jan 13, 2018.

On Thursday, the matter came up before the ATC-III judge.

Former SSP Anwar, former DSP Qamar Ahmed and three others appeared before the court on bail while around 13 detained accused persons were produced from prison.

The investigating officer of the case SSP Abid Qaimkhani produced two witnesses of the prosecution for recording their statements.

The court recorded the statements of both the witnesses and their cross-examination by the defence counsel.

However, the judge took serious notice of absence of other witnesses and inquired from IO Qaimkhani why they were not being produced before the court for recording their testimonies.

The IO informed that the witnesses were directed to ensure their appearance before the court, but they failed to turn up.

The court was informed that one of the witnesses had gone on tableeghi tour and would return in March.

The judge issued non-bailable warrants for arrest of three police officials and four private witnesses for not appearing before the court despite issuance of directives.

The judge directed the IO to ensure their arrest and produce them before the court on the next date and adjourned the hearing till Feb 11.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2021